Jessie Veeder writes and sings about the badlands of Western North Dakota where she grew up and is now working raising kids and cattle as the fourth generation on her family’s cattle ranch.
Veeder released her first original album at sixteen and among her five original albums that span a twenty-plus career as a working and touring musician lie unique and interestingly beautiful vocals, rootsy instrumentation and raw lyrics that write the story of the working men and women in the small towns, ranches and oil fields of rural America. Jessie’s most recent release “Whiskey in the Winter” tells the story of working in manual labor against the harsh and isolated climate from the perspective of a man who’s living and enduring it every day. The gritty honesty of the song proves how capable and trustworthy Veeder has become as a voice for the people in her rural community.
Blending western, rock, blues and heartfelt, honest lyrics, Jessie is a powerful storyteller on paper, on stage and in song. Her words hold a point of view rooted deep in the rugged landscape and what it means to exist there. Veeder’s ability to captivate and connect with audiences during her live performances is what has made her original music a success since she began performing alongside her father when she was only ten-years-old, belting out tunes by Nancy Griffith, EmmyLou Harris, John Prine and Bruce Springsteen, artists who helped hone her love for folk music and songs with heart. From there she went on to travel the country with a booking agency out of Nashville and build an audience the old-fashioned way—pounding the pavement. When Veeder had the opportunity to move back to her family’s ranch in 2010 she took it, focusing her work on giving a voice to the real people and real artists in her community by continuing to write four more original albums and reaching beyond the songs to writing a weekly column about rural living for regional news outlets, becoming a regular commentator for Prairie Public Radio, publishing a book of prose, poems and photography (Coming Home), and releasing a children’s book (Prairie Princess) about a young girl’s connection to her family’s ranch. Veeder’s renowned single Boomtown, off her 2012 album “Nothing’s Forever” helped put her in the national and international spotlight for its compassionate take on the people working to make a living in her oil boom community.
Throughout the years Veeder’s career as a troubadour songstress and respected writer has held steady and true through helping run a generational ranch, raise her daughters and, in 2020, a cancer diagnosis that threatened her life and her voice.
“Jessie tells the story of us,” said David Swenson of Makoche Studios, who worked with Jessie to produce her 2012 release Nothing’s Forever, an album that he describes as one of the best to come out of their studio. “Jessie is one of the most intuitive and instinctual artists I have ever worked with. She’s prolific.”
Watch for Veeder’s full length album release “Yellow Roses,” January 11, 2024. Featuring generational stories of rural living and rootsy instrumentation from some of Nashville’s best session players, Veeder does what she does best and breathes life into music that celebrates and tells the unsung stories of rural, middle America.
In addition to her career as a writer and performer, Jessie is a founding member of McKenzie County’s Long X Arts Foundation where she works to help create and promote cultural and arts based activities in her hometown, blending her love and connection to the arts with her drive to make her community a better place to work and live.
Jessie lives on her family’s ranch in Western, North Dakota. She is raising her two young daughters and pretty herd of cattle with her husband, Chad.
Veeder is a regular performer at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko Nevada and large regional festivals. She is the recent recipient of the Governor’s Award for the Arts in Individual Achievement, was named North Dakota’s Favorite Folk Artist and is the recipient of the North Dakota Ambassador Award. Jessie has shared the stage with Corb Lund, Margo Cilker, Wylie Gustafson, Sam Platts, The Munsick Boys, Dan Seals, Bobby Vee, Black Hawk, Sammy Kershaw, Corb Lund, Joe Diffie, Confederate Railroad, The Wilkensons, Brenn Hill, Martha Scanlan, Keri Noble and Gwen Sebastian, among others.
Download Jessie’s newest singles off of her upcoming album “Yellow Roses”
The first single off of the 2024 album “Yellow Roses”. Calling all good men!
“If I ever disappoint you, just blame it on the whiskey.” The second single off of “Yellow Roses.”
Socials
Instagram @jessieveeder
Facebook @jessieveedermusic & @veederranch
YouTube @jessieveedermusic
Jessie Veeder on Spotify
Jessie Veeder on Apple Music
Jessie Veeder on Amazon Music
Websites
jessieveedermusic.com
veederranch.com
Meanwhile, back at the ranch... 
hello are you relative of doug okland?? im 2 love that family marsha is my niece lois
Hi Lois,
I am a relative of Doug. I spent much time with Doug and Marsha when we lived in Missoula. Best people you can find! Thanks for reading.
Some of my favorites you might also like (and I like your sound) are Ingrid Michaelson, Diamond Jim Greene, Bill Miller and Robbie Robertson. You sing well, write your own lyrics and I’d like to think I was a small musical influence on your father, even though I was in Watford only 2 years. I took the classical performance route, but, spend lots of time in folk venues in Chicago.
I like your voice, I’m gonna stop by regularly. I wondered does that kind of places still exists… Greetengs form Croatia, Zagreb 🙂
Hi Jessie,
Wish I can come to your concerts. You’re so beautiful, too!!
Hope you’re well. Best, Thy
Ah, thanks Thy! Hope all is well.
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I will be back in Grassy Butte for a family reunion around the Fourth of July. Will you be doing any preformances around then? Your photos make me so homesick for that area.
Hi Mynde, so sorry to make you homesick, but it sure is a beautiful place to call home isn’t it? I am not sure about music during that time, maybe I’ll have to get something together! Thanks for reading.
It’s no wonder you do so well with the poetry if you can sing and write songs too!
Looks like the best time to see you this summer will be when u are in Minn. for me(august). I’m leaving the middle of June -the end to go out East to see my sister, in Asheville ,NC(big blue grass fan) and go see my brother who has been at a rehab place but now in the hosp due to low blood pressure infection. My brother had Hodgkin s Lymphoma and encephalitis(which made him paralyzed) temporary..it is an uphill battle it seems so we never know the hands we are dealt until it happens. Wishing you a blessed week..Amen to the sunshine. Nicole
Nicole, I’m sorry to hear about your brother, I hope he pulls through this challenge ok. And it would be wonderful to see you in Minn. if you can make it!
Hi, Jesse –
I think it’s been near 10 years since I tracked you down at UND for a little interview, photo and recital session for an article for the REC magazine. Side by side stories with you and Peggy Lee!
I enjoy your commentary on Prairie Public and your website/blog is a joy to follow. It’s great you’re blossoming so wonderfully as artist, musician, philosopher and cowpoke.
C ya round!
Kent Brick
North Dakota LIVING Magazine
WOW! You have a wonderful voice, I am listening to you now… Thank you jessie Veeder, you are great! Good Luck! I am impressed so much… Blessing and Happiness, with my love, nia
Thanks for listening nia! I hope to see you around these parts!
Excel
your good
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I have a great coincidence to tell you about.
My name is Carter McNamara. My great-grand parents are Benjamin and Antoinette Veeder. My grandmother is Elle Veeder — Edgar’s sister.
Anyway, last week, a friend of mine (who lives in Minneapolis near me, and is not from North Dakota) mentioned a song, “This Road,” that he bought at the Museum in Watford.City when coming back from Canada. He said it’s sung by a woman who’s last name is Veeder. I looked at the CD and it’s yours! What a coincidence 🙂
He played the song for me. It’s beautiful!
(Your slide guitarist is a great friend of mine, Jimmie Christensen.)
Thank you!
Oh my gosh Carter, so great to hear from you and to hear the connections! There is a great photo of Benjamin and Antoinette Veeder on their homestead in the Pioneer Museum. I love that photo and to think of how they lived and built their life out here. So glad you ran into someone who liked the CD! Maybe some day you can take a trip out to the ranch for a visit. Thanks again, so much for your note Carter!
And the coincidences just keep coming … here’s another.
A few months ago, I was driving across North Dakota, and happened to be listening to a hilarious story on public radio, about a woman who was celebrating a wonderful rainfall by sliding down a wet, clay butte on her land — and getting her butt bruised along the way.
At the end of the story, the radio moderator said, “That was Jessie Veeder.”
Benjamin and Antoinette, Edgar, Pete and Gene must be so proud of you! I hope you are, too.
Hey Jessie! im ur #1 fanin the whole world!!!!!! we should make the “SET4Life” classes longer. also i just realised that u r like a celebrity! So tecnically, i’ve met a celebrity!!!!! u r the best!
🙂 Leeroy
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Really enjoyed reading your blog. Guess this is always what I looked for. Country life, country music, country lady, love the lot.
Just caught the tail end of your performance with Lonesome Willie on PPTV: Boomtown is a powerful tune, beautifully delivered. All the best from Manitoba and hope to see you and LW live in the near future.
Thanks so much Ed. I will be posting the entire concert on my website this morning, so take a peek! The album should be out at the end of the month, so we will be doing some concerts. Hopefully we’ll see you down the line!
I love that part of the state and grew up mostly on a family farm and cant wait to get back home after all these years Your pics show the beaty of ND and why we love it Good luck and Godspeed.
George
I just discovered your music and would love to promote it in my WordPress blog. I also want to invite you for an interview in the future.
Sounds great! Count me in!
I a=included you in my blog as a link. For an interview, please write to me at rcag62@gmail.com
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Wonderful music, Mrs. Veeder. I am just a simple listener that wouldn’t wish my singing on any karaoke bar in the MN-ND-SD area, but I know good music when I hear it. I’m sitting here listening to the rain and your music and hearing tones of Martina McBride and Allana Myles in your vocals. The instrumentals are nicely done.
As a guy who complains to his wife mercilessly about missing really good music, I appreciate what you’re doing. Thanks for staying true to a clean, pure sound and keeping good music alive. The sky is the limit, young lady.
We look forward to seeing you in Fargo in June!
Jon & Alyssa
Great concert last night in Linton. You made my daughters day! Love your music. Best wishes and God Bless from the Brian and Susan Schumacher family.
I couldn’t get ‘Work’ out of my head last night while cleaning cow facilities and filling sand beds on the dairy farm in Wisconsin. I really enjoy the album.
i would like to purchase your latest cd get a color autographed photo and join your email list please give total cost for both and address to send money order easier for me thanx great music mike c
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Hello Jessie. Long time no see. I still listen to your music and read your blog. I once interviewed as host of The Americana Bistro Grill at AMI Radio. I would like to invite you for an interview in my new show The AG News Show on WordPress. More details on alvarezgalloso@journalist.com
Jessie,
We have through the years enjoyed your articles in the Grand Forks Herald! You are a great writer! We saw you at the Williston Chokecherry Festival years back…I caught you
as you were about to enter from behind the stage
and told you how much!!
I have prayed often for your health and continued success! Your girls are precious!